Obama strategists to be part of Rudd's campaign team

THREE key strategists who helped United States President Barack Obama win re-election last year will work on Kevin Rudd's campaign.

Fairfax reported Tom McMahon, the former executive director of the Democratic National Committee, Joon Kim, of the consulting firm New Partners, and British social media expert Matthew McGregor - dubbed "Barack Obama's digital attack dog" - will be part of the Prime Minister's election campaign team.

A number of senior Coalition figures seized on the news to criticise Labor.

Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey took to Twitter, posting: "I thought Kevin Rudd told us he didn't want to see negative politics in Australia."

There was also criticism of Labor's decision to hire overseas campaign staff, given the government's crackdown on the use of 457 visas.